After India’s dominant 3-0 victory over England in the ODI series, head coach Gautam Gambhir was asked about Varun Chakaravarthy’s chances of securing a place in the playing XI for the Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh in Dubai. While Gambhir did not confirm his inclusion ahead of Kuldeep Yadav, he revealed that Chakaravarthy was a last-minute addition to the squad, replacing Yashasvi Jaiswal.
The selection committee and team management believed that the mystery spinner had the potential to be a game-changer. India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, echoed similar sentiments during a pre-match press conference. He emphasized that the selectors were impressed with Chakaravarthy’s performance in T20Is over the past eight to nine months and wanted to see if he could replicate his success in a major ODI tournament.
With his unique skills and deceptive variations, Chakaravarthy had proven his ability to trouble batters in recent series against South Africa and England, where he took more than ten wickets.
Chakaravarthy’s Approach in the Nets
Rohit Sharma also shed light on Chakaravarthy’s approach in practice sessions, revealing that the mystery spinner does not showcase his full arsenal of variations in the nets.
“In practice, he sticks to a basic style of bowling and doesn’t experiment much. Maybe he doesn’t want even us to know all the tricks he has,” Rohit stated. The Indian captain, however, saw no issue with this approach, adding that if Chakaravarthy could deliver on the field during matches, it would be an asset for the team.
Chakaravarthy’s unconventional bowling action and deceptive release point make him a difficult bowler to read. While other Indian spinners like Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Washington Sundar bring depth to the squad with their all-round capabilities, Chakaravarthy’s inclusion is primarily for his bowling expertise.
India’s Squad Composition and Tournament Aspirations
India’s squad for the Champions Trophy comprises a spin-heavy lineup, with Kuldeep Yadav and Chakaravarthy as the primary specialist spinners. The team also has three all-rounders—Jadeja, Axar, and Sundar—who offer both batting and bowling options. The pace attack includes Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana, with Hardik Pandya serving as the lone pace-bowling all-rounder.
Addressing concerns about squad balance, Rohit Sharma explained that the team was built around its strengths. “We prefer players with multiple skills rather than specialists in one area,” he remarked. He also highlighted the significance of the Champions Trophy, returning after an eight-year hiatus, emphasizing that India would need to perform consistently well to lift the trophy.
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